Top 10 Machine Moments of 2013

After rallying the night before in downtown Delaware at the 2013 season kick-off party, the long eight-month wait was finally over. The Ohio Machine fans settled in to Selby Stadium for the start of the Machine’s second MLL season on Saturday, May 4. The Machine began its season against heavy-hitters the Denver Outlaws during “OSU Sports Medicine Night.” Fans saw the return of 2012 Machine players Chazz Woodson, Steele Stanwick, Greg Bice and Kyle Hartzell along with new faces added to the roster during the off season.

MLL veteran and Machine co-captain Chazz Woodson started the game off with the Machine’s first goal of the season. Denver, who went 14-0 in the regular season to be the first team in MLL history, pulled ahead towards the end of the first quarter with five goals from Chris Bocklet, Jeremy Sieverts, Terry Kimener and Brendan Mundorf. The Machine began to close the gap with three back-to-back goals, including Stanwick’s first goal of the season, to diminish the Outlaws’ lead to only one goal. The Outlaws went into halftime leading 5-4.

Coming out of halftime, Denver fought hard to add to its one-goal lead. The Outlaws scored five goals throughout the third quarter compared to the Machine’s one from Eric O’Brien. Denver goalie Jesse Schwartzman, who was named 2013 MLL Goalie of the Year, made it difficult for the Machine offense to score throughout the game only allowing a total of eight goals off 16 shots. Schwartzman was named Player of the Game for his performance in goal. The fourth quarter saw a hard battle in which the Machine fought back against the heavy hitters to close the gap but Denver secured the win, 13-8.

Even though the Machine lost its first game of the season, you wouldn’t have been able to tell from the Machine fans unwavering support throughout the entire game. Fans were on their feet cheering their players on all the way until the clock read 00:00 and were rewarded with post-game fireworks presented by Fireball Whiskey that capped off the start of the 2013 season.

To make sure you are there for the Top 10 moments of 2014, get your 2014 season tickets today! Season tickets for the Machine’s 2014 season are now on sale and range from General Admission at $92 to a Field Level Box at $2,400 and include seven regular season home games plus a 2014 MLL playoff game. Information on 2014 season tickets can be found at www.theohiomachine.com/season-tickets.